3rd Cat racing in Belgium

[olleyuk]

Hi,

I live in Hull and have good access to Belgium using North Sea Ferries. I am interested in doing a bit of racing across in Belgium but not sure how to go about it. Are there any othe 3rd Cats out there who have done some racing in Belgium? How did you find it?

Cheers,

OlleyUK

 

[overgeared]

i read an article written by some londoners who used to spend the odd weekend over there, it was on londoncyclesport.com before that site was overhauled, consequently i beleive it's not longer available, but from memory they raved about how cheap it was (some organisers will almost pay you to ride in their evenrt), the hospitality, and the availabilitty of racing.

one resource that is still around would be this: http://www.thechainstay.com/belgium/index.html

 

[olleyuk]

Hi mate,

Thanks for info - will look into it.

Cheers,

Olleyuk

 

[RoyalDutchShell]

You'll probably find this out on the chainstay site anyways, but you need a letter of permission to race in Belgium from your cycling federation. There are way more 1.12 races (elite zonder contract) in Belgium (I think they would be like cat 1/2?) than 1.18 or "amateur" races (probably more like cat 2/3... still damn fast). If you want to do lots of racing or have lots of options during your forays here, the 1.12 category is better. In the summer the calendar is packed. One idea would be to come here and get beat down in these races, and then be way stronger, tougher and more experienced when you race at home...

 

[vspa]

Originally Posted by RoyalDutchShell .

You'll probably find this out on the chainstay site anyways, but you need a letter of permission to race in Belgium from your cycling federation. There are way more 1.12 races (elite zonder contract) in Belgium (I think they would be like cat 1/2?) than 1.18 or "amateur" races (probably more like cat 2/3... still damn fast). If you want to do lots of racing or have lots of options during your forays here, the 1.12 category is better. In the summer the calendar is packed. One idea would be to come here and get beat down in these races, and then be way stronger, tougher and more experienced when you race at home...

there is a calendar with all the events, typically 6 to 8 races per day ! (in different areas), im not sure where to get one on the internet,

 

[RoyalDutchShell]

Originally Posted by vspa .




there is a calendar with all the events, typically 6 to 8 races per day ! (in different areas), im not sure where to get one on the internet,

This be it: http://www.wielerbondvlaanderen.be/startwbv/main/wedstrijdkalender2009/mainpage/
(or http://new.wiebovlaanderen.be/COMPETITIE/tabid/71/Default.aspx?S=Competitie and click on "Wedstrijdkalendar" on the right and search the 1.12B category for kermesses. Gregg Germer has good info on decoding it from Flemish... http://www.thechainstay.com/belgium/racing_races.html)

6 to 8 races would only be in the mid-summer on certain Saturday or Sundays, but very often you have lots of good choices. Supposedly there used to be many more races! What's nice is that they start in early March and go right until near the end of October.

 

[vspa]

i think those links refer to Flanders area only, there must be a similar one for the Wallon area, in the 90's there was a common calendar for both areas,
kermesse racing style is one attack after the other on a circuit race, several small groups form from the shattered peloton straight away,
prices in money are available up to th 20th place more or less,
like RoyalDutchShell says you need to carry some paperwork and your local cycling license,

 

[RoyalDutchShell]

I think this one covers Wallonie.
http://www.fcwb.be/calendrier.asp
But there are maybe 50 races in Wallone and 50000000 in Flanders.

Flanders and Wallone have separate cycling associations as part of the political and historical divide in Belgium.